Henry W. Coe State Park
An adventurous journey with 10+ mile hikes
Trek into the wilderness and sleep in the backcountry
Ideal for first-timers
Trip · 3-day backpacking trip
For · Friends and first-time backpackers
Vibe · Challenging and hard
Distance · 15 mile loop and 3,524 feet of elevation gain
Permits · Yep, pick up a permit at Hunting Hollow Entrance
Drive · 2 hours from SF
Ideal dates · April to May or September to October
Pets · Not allowed on trails
Henry W. Coe is the second largest state park in CA (after Anza-Borrego Desert State Park). It has about 87,000 acres of lofty ridges and 250 miles worth of trails. It's an expansive area that draws hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers, without the Yosemite-level crowds. Summers are sizzling with highs in the 100s, so plan to visit in the fall or spring. You'll have no trouble picking up a backpacking permit, unless it's Memorial Day weekend. Whether it's a two-night or week-long adventure, you'll find plenty of wilderness to explore at Henry Coe.
Main image credit: N/A
Henry Coe SP has three main entrances: Coe Ranch, Hunting Hollow, and Dowdy Ranch. You can only self-register or pick up a backpacking permit on the day of your trip from Coe Ranch or Hunting Hollow park entrances. Permits are first-come, first-serve (FCFS), but you won't have any trouble securing one outside of a spring holiday weekend, like Memorial Day. Parking spots are limited though so try to get to the trailhead as early as possible.
There are designated FCFS backcountry campsites in the western part of the park, but you can generally camp where ever you'd like. Some of these campsites have outhouses, but they're not always stocked with TP.
Permit fees are $5 per person a night and $8 parking fee per vehicle a night ($6 at Hunting Hollow Entrance). Bring exact change if the visitor centers are closed, otherwise, you can pay by credit card.
In 1953, Sada Coe, the daughter of Henry Willard Coe, gave her family's cattle ranch to CA. It became the park we have today.
The Ohlone and the Northern Valley Yokuts were the area's earliest inhabitants. They were semi-nomadic tribes.
Henry Coe is home to Orestimba Wilderness, one of 12 state park wilderness areas that's designed to preserve the area's natural ecosystems
You won't be saving money, but you'll save space and weight with these camp sandals.
Clothes
Sleepover! This is a tent you can stand up in and have plenty of space for air mattresses, doggos, and more.
Shared Gear
A reliable, popular, and relatively affordable dual-burner camping stove that is fairly heavy, but performs well.
Kitchen
It's pricey, but the New York Times' Wirecutter recommended this attachment as a way for wheelchair users to navigate uneven terrain.
Essential Items
Instead of transporting stuff on your lap, use this storage bag to easily store items underneath your wheelchair.
Essential Items
Never dig around your pack to find some hand sanitizer. Instead, hang this one on the outside of your pack.
Personal Stuff
If you're an experienced backpacker, this is the lightest full-size, full-featured, frameless pack made.
Essential Items
Add a little magic to your experience by hanging these twinkling lights around your tent every night.
Shared Gear
Sometimes you just want a camp chair that gets the job done. Nothing glamorous or fancy. Well, this is it.
Shared Gear
The more you backpack the lighter your shelter becomes, and the lighter it is, the more expensive it can be.
Shared Gear
Camp underneath the stars and watch glorious sunrises in Joshua Tree National Park, the second largest national park in California.
